An
Emirates flight EK 262 from Sao Paulo, Brazil to Dubai, United Arab Emirates,
made an emergency landing in Lagos at the weekend due to the deteriorating
health condition of a suspected cocaine trafficker.

Screening
by anti-narcotic officials found four passengers positive for drug ingestion.
They are currently under interrogation.

One of the
suspects in critical health condition was immediately hospitalised as doctors
battle to save his life.

Chairman/Chief
Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Col.
Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (rtd.) who said that the suspect is responding to
treatment called for stiffer penalty against drug trafficking.

Abdallah
said that the Agency needs the cooperation of all stakeholders to send a
warning to drug trafficking organisations.

According
to Abdallah, “NDLEA is taking necessary measures to protect and promote the
image of Nigeria and will resist any attempt to undermine the gains so far
recorded in the fight against drug control.

“Drug
traffickers must be severely punished to reduce the number of persons getting
involved in the criminal act. All hands must be on deck to condemn drug
trafficking in its entirety.”

NDLEA
commander at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos, Mr.
Ahmadu Garba said that the Emirates flight left Sao Paulo, Brazil to Dubai but
was forced to come to Lagos due to the health condition of a passenger on board
who ingested cocaine.

“A
passenger complained of severe abdominal pains and later suffered three
recurrent seizures thus necessitating an emergency landing in Lagos.

Upon
arrival, four passengers tested positive for narcotic ingestion. They are Okeh
Desmond, Ezeanya Nnaemeka, Christopher Nonso and Chibusi Promise. All the
suspects are under observation” Garba stated.

The NDLEA
has beamed its search light on flights originating from Brazil and Dubai in
recent times because of its notoriety in cocaine trafficking.